Feed mechanism for wood-reworking machines



w. J. ELDER. .FEED MECHANISM FOR WOOD REWORKING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED-JUNE 21. 191B. .RENEWED OCT. 29, 1920. I

7 345 Patented May 24, 1 921.

W. J. ELDER.

.FEED MECHANISM FOR WOOD REWORKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21. 1918. RENEWED OCT. 29. 1920.

1,378,845. Patented May 24,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w. L ELDER. FEED MECHANISM FOR WOOD REWORKING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNEZI, 1918- RENEVIED OCT. 29, I920.

. 1,378,845. Patented May 24,1921.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JOHN ELDER, 0E OSWEGO, N'EW'YORK.

' EEED MECHANISM FOR WOQEEEWOEKING' MAcrnNEs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma 24, 1921-.

Application filed June 21, 1918, Serial No. 241,114. 'Renewed October 29, 1920. Serial No. 420,579.

To all w/wmz't mag concern. I

Be it known that I, WILLrAM JOHN EPDER, a citizen of the United States, and resident oi the cit and county of Oswego and State especially to mechanism whereby squared timber lengths are delivered ,to the usual vertical feed rolls of a res'awing or other cutting instrumentality.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic mechanism of simple and efficient construction whereby timber lengths are removed from a suitable source of supply, properly'positioned, and fed in endv'vi'se succession to the resawingor other cutting mechanism; thereby eifecting laboreconorny,

reducing liability of injury to the operator, and insuring increased'output. j I

The invention, generally stated, comprises a support upon which s uared timber lengths are stacked; a conveyer whereby the lowermost lengths are successively removed from the stack and advanced in endwise relation to. each other, and means. whereby said lengths are successively disposed on their lower longitudinal edges, in vertical position, preparatory to their delivery tov the resawing or cutting machine.

The invention also comprises variousnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings" Figure 1 is a perspective view of timber feeding mechanism embodying'tfhe principle of my invention, showing a piece of timber as positioned within the guide structure.

Fig. 2 is-a plan view of the apparatus, showing its relation to the feed roll .inechanism of a wood reworking machine.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional elevation of the feed-rolls and adjuncts of the reworking machine, as on the line 2 a of Fig; 2.

Fig. 3 isa side elevationof the apparatus. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the right-hand or feeding end of the apparatus shown in *ig. 3. f Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the apparatus on a plane through the delivery end of the inclined feed table and adjuncts, as on the line 5 -5 of'F 3.

len ths to be operated upo n. ends of the cross-straps have upstanding Fig. 6 is a similar section 1 through the vertical guiding structure and adjuncts, as

on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. V

Fig. 7 is a partial section through said structure adjacent the screw adjusting devices therefor, as on the line 7'-7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a similar section-on a plane through the flexible deflectin strips, as on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, showing the timber as positioned vertically thereby.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a substantial frame work including two spaced'cross bars 11' having outwardly and upwardly inclined end extensions 12 in parallelism with each other. Supported on these extensions are two longitudinal beams 13 one of which is arranged at the lower and the other at the upper ends of the extensions. On'the outer or'higher beam are secured the angular su porting ends 14 of cross-straps 15 which incline-downwardly toward the inner o'r lower beam and sustain an'in'clined table lfi-which is adapted to receive' and support a stack of squared timber The lower portions 17 which are" affixed to an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall '18 at the lower end of the table, which wall in turn is borne by stout standards 19 on the main frame and is adapted to support and guide thelower-edges of the material stacked on the table. The successive lowermost lengths are individually advanced in inclined position from the stack, as hereinafter described. i

' the inner face ofv the wall 18, adjacent to the delivery end of the table, is a flanged bar 20, which is mounted for adjustment llongitudinallyof the" wall. In the present instance the basal flange of the bar is provided with screw-bolts- 21 which extend throughspaced longitudinal slots 22 in the wall and are providedat their upper ends with clamp nuts 23, whereby the bar may be position of adjustment longitudinally of the lattenas the length of material to be operated upon may require. Mounted on the of the plate constituting a positiv stop for the contiguous ends of the remaining matesecured to the wall in any predetermined rial. The plate 24 is adjustable toward and vmachine.

from the table according to the thickness of the timber. For this purpose the plate is provided with screw-threaded studs 25 which extend through spaced slots 26 inthe bar and bear exterior clamp-nuts 27.

Suitably arranged on the beams 13 are two pairs of bearing brackets 28in which are journaled the respective shafts 29 of a chain conveyer comprising two spaced chains 30 which are carried by sprocket wheels 31 fast on the respective shafts 29; said chains being connected at spaced intervals by means of cross-bars 32 which extend beyond the outer faces of the chains. The upper runs of the chains travel in longitudinal marginal recesses 33in the top of the table 16 and the cross-bars of suchrun extend across and travel upon the surface of the table so as to take against the opposing ends of the succeeding lowermost timbers of the stack and advance themtherefrom along the table, as will presently appear.

The conveyor may be driven through any suitable transmitting mechanism from a primary source of power. In the present instance the outer shaft 29, adjacent its lower end, is provided with a sprocket wheel 34 which is connected by means ofca chain with a similar wheel 36 on a horizontal shaft 37 having its bearings in boxes on the main frame adjacent the delivery end of the chain conveyor. The shaft 3'? bears. a pulley 38 which is connected by means of a belt 39 with a pulley 40 on a driven shaft 41 having its bearings in brackets onthat end of the main frame adjacent the resawing Thus the power is transmitted from the shaft 41 to the shaft 37, thence through the sprocket gearing described to the chain conveyer. The pulleys 38, 40 are preferably of the speed or cone type, whereby variable speed may be transmitted to the conveyer as desired.

As each of the lowermost timbers is ad vanced in inclined position from the stack by the chain conveyer the leading end of the lower side of the timber is acted upon by positioning devices hereinafter described which tend gradually to swing the inclined material vertically on its lower longitudinal edge. The timber thus positioned progresses through a longitudinal guide structure leading to the vertical feed rolls 42 of the resawing or cutting machine, which feed rolls are mounted for adjustmenttoward and from each other inany usual or approved manner in order to adapt them to the feeding of material of different thick nesses. In the present instance I have selected for illustration a construction in which the shafts 43 of the feed-rolls have their hearings in slidably-mounted carriage members 44 which carry the horizontallyadjustable timber guidesg45 in advance of the rolls. On the lower ends of the shafts insure the parallelism of the walls. .means 1n the form lllustrated comprises a gether with their appurtenances, may be moved toward or from each other as desired.

The feed-roll mounting and the adjusting devices therefor, being old, require no detailed illustration or description. 4

In the present instance the shaft 41 is driven from the power-actuated shaft 48 of the resawing machine through a sprocket chain 51 which passes about a wheel 52 on the shaft 48 and about a wheel 53 which is mounted on a stud shaft 54 extending from a bracket on one of the. longitudinal beams 55 of the mainframe. The lower run of the chain 51 in its passage between the wheels,52,53 meshes with a sprocket wheel 56 on the shaft 41 and thereby transmits the motion to the latter shaft from the shaft 48.

The guide structure above referred to comprises a longitudinally-chsposed bed 57 supported by brackets 58 on the beams 55 a of the main frame, and two spaced parallel walls 59, 60 which are arranged on the bed so as to extend lengthwise thereof and providea guide and support for the edgewise disposed material in its passage to the feedrolls. The inner end of the wall 59 extends near. to the delivery end of the inclined table 16, and the corresponding end of the other wall 60 terminates some distance short of the conveyer to provide suflicient space .fOl certain timber positioning devices below. described. The guide walls 59, 60 are adjustable toward and from each-other so as to vary the distance therebetween correspondingly with the space between the feed-rolls 42 of the wood reworking machine.

In the present instance the ends of the guide walls adjacent the feed rolls, are

hinged, as atGl, to the adjustable guides 45, whereby when the carriage members are adjusted to vary the space between the feed rolls the hinged ends of the guide walls 59, 60 are correspondingly adjusted. Means are provided whereby the bodies of the guide walls may be swung apartor toward each other according to the extent of adjustment of their delivery ends, in order to Such shaft 62having right and left hand screw threads thereon, which shaft is supported in a transverse bearing bracket 63 on the upnally-threaded portions which receive the respective screw-threads of the shaft. This shaft is preferably provided at one end with a hand-wheel 65 to facilitate the operation of the shaft-for the relative bodily adjustment of the guide walls- On the bed 57, throughout the greater :part of its length, is the upper run of a belt conveyer 66 whichpasses about pulleys 67, 68 at the respective ends of said bed. One (67) of these pulleys is faston the driven shaft 41 and the other (68.) on a shaft 69,

having its bearings .in brackets on the frame beams 55, whereby during the operation of the machine the upper run of the belt conveyer travels toward the resawing machine and thus feeds endwise to; the latter the material supported edgewise within the guide structure. I preferably provide for the belt conveyer a tension roll 70 carried by a suitably-disposed weighted lever 71 having a yoke portion 72 which is loosely hung from the shaft ll. (See Figs. 2, 3 and 6.) This conveyer is run somewhat faster than the spaced feed'rolls 42 of the resawing machine in order that the-succeeding pieces of material within the guide structure shall be maintained in end to end contact with each other. If a positive conveyer be employed it should be provided with an ordinary fric tion drive to allow forslippage during the feeding operation.

Supported on the bed 57, adjacent to the lateral opening of the guide wall 60, is a supporting wall 73 whichis-arranged at the same angle of inclination as the upper runs of the chain conveyer, or substantially so. Afiixed to the inner face of this inclined wall, at the end thereof adjacent the chain conveyer, are two spaced strips 74:, 75 of spring metal, which are curved gradually upward and inwardso as to'extend through the wall opening and overhang the belt conveyer 66, the outer strip 75 rising somewhat higher than the other, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 8. To the inner end of the wall 60 of the longitudinal guide structure is affixed one end of a relatively broad spring strip 76 which curves over upon the inner face of the inclined wall 7 3 and is slightly twisted toward its free end in order to present a cam-like surface adjacent to the lower portions of the strips 74, 75. Secured to the inner end of the other wall 59 of the guide structure is a curved plate 77 which overlies and rests upon the timber supporting wall 18.

The relative arrangement of the strips and plate just described is such that as each lowermost timber is advanced in inclined position from the stack by the chain conv yer the leading 611 91 the timber is directed into the receiving end of the guide structure, and after the timber escapes the stop plate 24 0f the wall 18, such leading end-is pushed. forcibly against the opposing strip 7 1 which, yielding, acts against the side of the timber about the middle thereof. This strip by its inherent elasticity thus swings with a lifting force the timber toward the vertical, (as indicated in Fig. 8)

timber thus positioned on its lower edge is transported by the belt conveyer to the feedrolls of the resawing or cutting machine as previously described.

WVhile I have herein described a construction whereby singletimber lengths are successively advanced from the stack by the chain conveyor, it is to be understood that two or more lengths may be successively advanced thereby and the same positioned within and fed along the guide structure similarly to a single length. It is also to be understood that my invention is not limited to thespecific features of construction herein disclosed, as the same may be modified within the principle of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- I 1. In feed mechanism for wood rework- 111g machines, the combination of means for supporting a stack of timber lengths,

- means for removin the lengths successively from the stack, a spring pressure element arranged in the path of thesucceeding progressing lengths and constructed to exert a lateral lifting pressure thereagainstand thus dispose them vertically on their lower longitudinal edges. and means for delivering such lengths thus positioned to the re-' working machine.

2. In feed mechanism for wood rework- As the timber supporting a stack oftimber lengths, means for advancing the lengths successively from the stack, a series of spaced spring strips curved gradually upwardand inwardso as to extend successively into the path of the progressing lengths and thus exert lateral lifting pressure against said lengths and dispose them vertically on their lower longitudinal edges, and means for delivering such lengths thus positioned to the reworking machine.

4. In feed mechanism for woodreworking machines, the combination of means for supporting in inclined position a stack of timber lengths, means for advancing the lengths successively from the stack in incliued position, a series of spring members extending successively into the path of the advancing inclined lengths and positioned to bear laterally against such lengths and swing them vertically on their lower longitudinal edges, a guide structure for the thus vertically positioned lengths, and means for advancing such lengths along said structure.

5. The combination with a wood reworking machine having spaced parallel feed rolls, carriage members therefor, and means for adjusting said members to vary the space between the rolls, of means for supporting a stack of timber lengths, means for removing the lengths successively from the stack, means for engaging the succeeding lengths as they progress and disposing them vertically on their lower longitudinal edges, a guide structure, and means for advancing such lengths end to end through the said structure to the said feed rolls, said structure including side walls flexibly connected to and adjustable with the respective carriage members, and means remote from said members for adjusting said walls and insuring their spaced parallel relation to each other.

6. The combination with a wood reworking machine having spaced parallel feed rolls, carriage members therefor, and means for adjusting said members to vary the space between the rolls, of a support remote from said rolls adapted to receive a stack of timber lengths, means for advancing the lengths successively fromsaid support, a

said rolls.

7. The combination with a wood reworking machine. having ,sp'aced parallel feed rolls, carriage members therefor, and means for adjusting said members to vary the space between therolls, of a support remote from said rolls adapted to receive a stack of timber lengths, means far advancing the lengths successively from said support, means for laterally engaging the progressing lengths and disposing them vertically, on their lowerlongitudinal edges, a

guide structure for the thus vertically p0- sitioned lengths, and means for advancing such lengths end to end through the said structure to the said feed rolls, said structure including side walls flexibly connected to and adjustable with the respective carriage members, and means remote from said members foradjusti'ng'said walls and insuring their spaced parallel relation to each other.

Signed at the city and county of Oswego and Stateof'New York this 15th day of June, A. D. 1918.

"WILLIAM JOHN ELDER. 

